Gear-shifting mechanism



J. E/WEBSTI'IB. GEAR SHIFTING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 3, 1914.RENEWED JUNE- [3, 1 918.

1 $63,629. Patented Dec. 28, 1920.,

3 SHEETS-SHEET I- 25 4 WITNESSES:

INVENTOR 2. M 3 M ATTORN EY J. E. WEBSTER. I GEAR SHIFTING MECHANISM.APPLICATION FILED MM. 3, 191:4. 'RENEWED JUNE JB 1918.

1,363,629, Patented Dec. 28,1920.

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80 E916: mvamon ATTORNEY J. E, WEBSTER.

GEAR SHIFTING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED MAR. s, 1914. RENEWED JUNE13, I918.

1,363,69e Patented Dec. 28,1920.

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JOHN E. WEBSTER, 0F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTINGHOUSEELECTRIC AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A. CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

GEAR-SHIFTING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 3, 1914, Serial No. 822,173. Renewed June13,1918. Serial No. 239,910.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN E. VEBSTER, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State ofPennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement inGear-Shifting Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

lVIy ,invention relates to gear shifting mechanisms for automobiles orother motor vehicles, and particularly to such mechanisms as arecontrolled by selective devices.

My invention has for its object to provide a device of the characterabove indicated by means of which the transmission gear mechanism of amotor vehicle may be controlled by the operation of the usual clutchpedal or lever.

A second object of my-invention is to provide an arrangement foroperating the gear shifting mechanism by a power device upon theactuation of any one of several push buttons which correspond to thevarious speeds.

In the operation'of motor vehicles, it is the usual practice toaccomplish the changes in speed ratio by means of a manually operablelever which is connected to shiftable gear wheels. It is highlydesirable that the changes in speed ratio be accomplished without theapplication of considerable physical force in order that the attentionof the operator may not be diverted from the steering of the vehicle.

In my copending application, Serial No. 810,814, filed January 7 191 1,I have provided a mechanism which selectively controls the actuation ofthe shiftable gear Wheels by the usual clutch pedal. This arrangement,while enabling the operator to accomplish the changes in speed ratiowithout releasing the steering wheel, requires the application ofconsiderable physical force.

In the present invention, I provide a structui e in which the changesin'speed ratio are selected in advance of the actual change, by theactuation of oneof several push buttons; The clutch pedal then controlsa circuitwhich includes an electromagnet for actuating the gear shiftingmechanism to produce the desired change in speed ratio. The circuit ofthe electromagnet is closed only upon the actuation of the clutch pedalbeyond the point at which the clutch is disengaged.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view, partially in plan andpartially in .1

are sectional views of the mechanism of Fig.

3. Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view of the electrical circuits employed inconnection with my invention and of the mechanism for controlling a setof push buttons that-control the circuits.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 2,

an automobile chassis 1, only a portion of which is shown, is providedwith a gas engine 2 having a fly wheel 3. A transmission mechanism, orchange-speed gear mechanism it-is connected to the engine 2 by a shaft 5and a conical clutch member 6 that is slidably mounted on the shaft 5 tocoact with a correspondingly shaped clutch member 7 formed in the flywheel 3. The clutch memher 6 is provided with an integral grooved collar8 to be engaged by a yoke member 9 that has a pivotal support upon abracket 10., A pedal 11, that is adapted to be operated by the foot ofthe operator, has a" pivotal support upon a lug l2 and is connected by alink 13 to the yoke member 9. A spring 14, that is attached at. one endto a suitable stationary part, normally retains the clutch pedal 11 inits rearward position, with the clutch member '6 engaging the clutchmember 7 in the fly wheel 3. The clutch pedal 11 is'provided with ashoulder portion 15 that operates to close a switch 16 when the clutchpedal has been depressed beyond the clutch disengaging position. Theswitch 16 controls the actuation of a gear-shifting mechanism indicatedat 17 v The transmission mechanism 4 forms no part ofmy invention but isso combined therewith that a description thereof is desirable in orderto explain the operation of the gear-shifting mechanism. The shaft :5,which is connected to the clutch member 6, extends into the transmissioncasing 18 through an end wall 19 and has a bearing therein. A gear wheel20, having two sets of gear teeth 21 and 22, is mounted upon the shaft 5within the casing 18. mission shaft 23, which is connected to the maintransmission-shaft 24, is in axial alinement with the shaft 5 and has abearing at 25 within the gear wheel 20. The shaft 23 is adapted to beconnected to the shaft 5 at diflerent speed ratios by means of two gearwheels 26 and 27 that are slidably keyed upon the shaft 23, gear wheels28, 29, 30 and 31 that are fixed upon a counter shaft 32 and an idlergear wheel 28 that is in mesh with the ear wheel 28.

T 1e gear wheel 31 is always in mesh with the gear teeth 22 to establisha fixedspeed ratio between the shafts and 32,. The mechanism is arrangedto provide three speeds in the forward and one in the reverse direction.The changes in speed ratio are controlled by the slidable gear, wheels26 and 27 which are respectively provided with integral grooved collarand 34 to be engaged by'yoke members 35 and 36. The yoke members 35 and36 are respectively fixed upon shift rods 37 and 38 that are controlledby the gear shifting mechanism, as will be later described.

When the gear wheel 26 is in .meshwith the gear wheel 29, the mechanismis in its first or low-speed position and the shaft 5 is connectedthrough the gear teeth 22, gear wheel 31, counter shaft 32 and gearwheels 29 and 26 to the transmission shaft 23. For the second orintermediate speed, the gear wheel '27 is shifted into mesh with thegear wheel 30. For the third or high speed, the gear wheel 27 is shiftedto the'right until internal gear teeth 39, with which the gear wheel 27is provided, mesh with the gear teeth 21. The shaft 5 is then directlyconnected to the transmission shaft 23 and the latter is driven the gearshifting mechanism 17 comprises a housing or casing 40 having end walls41 which provide bearings for two shift rods 42 Y and 43. The hift rods42 and 43, which are slldable axially in their bearings, are respec-'tively connected to the shift rods 37 and 38 of the transmissionmechanism. Two blocks 44 and 45- are slidably mounted upon the shiftrods 42 and 43. The blocks 44 and 45 are connected by links 46 to theoppositely A trans-' extending arm of a lever 47. The oscillation of thelever 47 operates to slide the blocks 44 and 45 in opposite directionssimultaneously. 'The lever 47 is fixed upona rock shaft 48'that isprovided with a pinion 49. An e'lectromag'net 50, which is attached tothe casing 40, comprises a movable core member 51. A rack 52, whichcoacts with the pinion 49, is integral with the core member 51.

Each of the shift rods 42 and 43is provided with a longitudinal groove53. Four dogs 54, that are pivotally mounted on opposite sides of theblocks 44 and 45, are each provided at one end with a hook portion 55for engaging the respective shift rods 42 and 43. Each of the dogs 54 isprovided, at its opposite end, with a horizontally extending magnetsbeing adjacent to one of the corners of the housing. The electromagnetscomprise coils 62, 63, 64 and 65, respectively. Each electromagnetcomprises, also, an armature 66 having a pivotal supportindicated at 67and being normally held outward by a spring 68. Each armature 66 isprovided, upon its outer face, with a stop 69 of substantially U-shape.When the electromagnets are deenergized, the vertical portions 71 of thecorresponding stops 69 are in the paths of movement of the horizontallyextending portion 56 of the coacting dogs 54, and the vertical portions70 of the said stops are in the paths of movement of coacting lugs 72.

The lugs 72, which are four in number, are located on the under sides ofthe shift rods 42 and 43, there being Jone lug on' each rod upon eachside of the block 44 and 45. When the "blocks 44 and 45 are movedoutwardly, and the dogs 54 are engaged by the respective stops 69, thedogs 54 are rocked on'their pivots and the hook portions 55 are raisedupwardly from the grooves 53, (Fig.

5,) so that they cannot engage the corresponding. shift rods. When oneof the lugs 72 engages the corresponding stop 69, further movement inthat direction is prevented.

When the electromagnets are energized, the armatures are drawn inwardlyand the stops 69 do not obstruct the outward movements of the severaldogs 54 and the lugs 7 2. The dogs 54-then pass between the verticalportions 70 and 71 of the stops 69, the horizontal portions 56 of thedogs being of suflicient length to retain the armatures in this positionuntil the dogs 54 are withdrawn. In theopera-tion of the mechanism,

which is later described, it is possible to incense I of the slidingblocks 44: and-45 will cause'- a corresponding movement of the shift rodand of the one or the other of the slidable gear wheels 26 and 27 in thesame direction. Each of four self-closing limit switches 73', whicharemounted in pairs in each end of the casing l0, comprises a movablemember 74: having a pin 75 to project into a groove 76 in the rod 42 orthe rod 43, as the case may be. The pin 75 is actuated by a coactingshoulder portion 77 to open its corresponding limit switch when theshift rod has reached the limit of its endwise movement. Each limitswitch 7 3 controls the circuit of one of the electromagnets, thearrangement being such that the circuit of the electromagnet that hasbeen energized to cause the shifting of one of the rods 42 and 43, whenthe blocks 44 and are actuated in opposite directions, is always brokenby the corresponding limit switch that is open at the end of themovement of the said rod which causes meshing of the transmission gearwheels. V

The movement of the pedal 11 beyond its clutch-disengaging position, andthe. consequent actuation of the block members 44: and 4:5 to return theshifted gear wheel to its neutral position, is controlled by anelectromagnet 78 that is attached toa side wall 79 of the housing 40.The electromagnet 7 8 is .provided with a pivotally mounted armature 80and a winding 81.

The armature 80 is provided with a stop member 82 to coact with a pin 83that is fixed t9 the block member 44:. When the coil 81 is deenergized,a spring 84 holds the armature'80 in its'outer position, with the stopmember 82 in engagement with the pin 83. When the coil 81 is energized,the armature 80 is drawn inwardly against the pressure of thespringBd towithdraw the stop member 82 from the path of movement of the pin 83.The-clutch pedal may then be moved freely to actuate the block membersstand d5to shift the gearwheels, as desired.

The electrical circuits for controlling the gear shifting mechanism areillustrated in Fig. 9. The electrical connections comprise five parallelcircuits that are respectively controlled by push buttons 85, 86, 87,'88 and 89. The several push buttons are designated according to thespeed ratio controlled by 3rd, 2nd, 1st, N (neutral) and lit 94 to beengaged by a spring pressed slid- (reverse), respectively. The severalpush .buttons are so interlocked that only one button can close itscorresponding circuit at one time, and this one remains closed until itis released. by the actuation of another button. The button 88, orneutral button, is arranged to open 'as soon as released afteractuation. The magnet coils 62 63, 64: and are in series with the pushbuttons 85, 86, 87 and 89, respectively, and with the correspondinglimit switches 73. The coil 81 of the electromagnet 78 and the coil 90of an electromagnetic switch 91 are in series with each of the parallelcircuits and with a battery 92. The switches 91 and. 16, the latter ofwhich is actuated by the clutch pedal 11. control a circuit comprisingthe coil 93 of the magnet 50 and the battery 92.

The means employed to interlock the push buttons forms no part of myinvention, but

"a brief description of the same is desirable in order to explain theoperation of my invention. Each push button, except the neutral button88, is provided with a notch able member 95 when the button has beensulhciently depressed. The several push buttons are provided with lugs96 that are wedge-shaped at one end for insertion between the ends ofbars 97 that are slidably mounted between stationary members 98. Thedistance between the stationary members 98 is equal to the sum of thelengths of the several bars 97 and the widthof one of the lugs 96,thereby insuring that only one of the push buttons may be depressed atone time. When one of the buttons is depressed, the lug 96 is insertedbetween the ends of the corresponding bars 97 and the notch 94 isengaged. by the'member'95 to lock it in its depressed position, with thecorresponding contact members 99 engaged to close one ofthe parallelcircuits. 4 When it is desired to close a second circuit, thecorresponding button is depressed. and the 119 -member 95 is engaged bythe inclined suring mechanism is in its correspondin normal or neutralposition, as shown in ,igs. 3 and L. It may be assumed, also, that theengine has been started and that the engine clutch members 6 and 7 aredisengaged. ltis desirable to start the vehicle on first speed, and thepush button 87 is accordingly pressed to close a circuit from thebattery through the push button 87, coil of the 13a electromagnet 60,limit switch 73 and coils 90 and 81 to the battery. The coil 64isenergized to draw'the armature 66 of the electromagnet 60 inwardly sothat it cannot obstruct the movement of .the corresponding by the switch16.' The clutch pedal 11,

which, at the time of starting the engine, is in such a position thatthe engine clutch members-6 and 7 are out of engagement, is then pressedforwardly beyond the clutchdiseng'aging position to close the switch 16.

The closing of the switch 16 completes a circuit through. the coil 93 ofthe electromagnet 50 and the coil 93 is thereby energized to draw thecore member 15 and the rack 52 inwardly. The pinion 49 then r0- tatestherock shaft 48, and the lever 47 is thus operated to actuate theblocks 44 and 45 outwardly, the hook portions 55 of the dogs 54 slidingalong the grooves 53. When the hook portions 55approach the ends of thegrooves, the dogs 54, with the exception of that one'coacting with theelectromagnet 60, engage the corresponding stops 69, and the dogs 54 arerocked about their pivots to raise the hook portions 55 from the grooves53. Further movement of the blocks causes the dog 54 that is notrockedto engage the rod 42 and move it to the right (Figs. 3 and 4) to meshthe gear wheel 26 with the gear wheel 29.

When the'gear wheels 26 and 29 are fully meshed, the shoulder portion 77and the pin 75 .will have opened the corresponding limit switch 73 tobreak the circuit comprising the coils 64, 90 and 81. The operator thenallows the spring '14 to retract the clutch pedal 11. A spring 101, thatis attached at one end to a stationary lug. 102 and at the other-end tothe lever 47, returns the blocks 44 and 45, the rock shaft 48 and therack 52 to their respective normal positions. The several dogs 54 arethus returned to their respective normal positions, the springs 57drawingthe dogs 54' downwardly as soon as the hook portions 55 havepassed the ends of the grooves 53. The engine clutch is still out whenthe various parts are in their respective normal or neutral positions.Further return movement of-the clutch pedal will effect the engagementof the engine 1 clutch and the vehicle will be driven through theconnections above described.

The circult controlled by the push button 87 willremam open untilanotherbutton has been pressed and the gears shifted from thefirst-speed position. The limit switch 73 will remain open until theshiftvrod 42' has been returned to withdraw the shoulder 77 fromengagement with the pin 75. The coils 81 and 90 cannot be energizeduntil a push button other than button 87 is pressed. It is, therefore,impossible to actuate the lever 47 of the shifting mechanism by means ofthe clutch pedal 11 before a second button has been actuated. The clutchcan be controlled as desired without in any way affecting thetransmission gear mechanism because the electromagnet 50 cannot beoperated until the switches 91 and 16 have been 7 closed.

.the pedal 11 has no effect when the electromagnetic switch 91 is open,the latter forming a safety device which is sufiicient for all ordinarypurposes. If the electromagnet 82 and its related parts be retained, theswitch 91 may be omitted, as the circuit comprising the coil 93 may becontrolled by the switch 16.

\Vhen it is desired to change the speed ratio, as, for example, tosecond speed,-the push button 86 may be pressed at any time desired inadvance of the actual change. The coil 63 of the electromagnet 59 andthe coils 81 and 90 will be energized to perform the same functions asdescribed inconnection with the corresponding parts when the push button87 was closed. To effect the change to the desired speed, the operatorpresses the pedal 11 to disengage the 'enthe pedaLll after the clutch isout efi'ects the closing of switch 16 and the electromagnet 50 firstoperates toshift the rod 42 to its neutral position. At this point, allof the dogs 54, except that one controlled by the electromagnet 59, haveengaged their corresponding coacting stops 69, and the dogs 54 arerocked out of engagement with the respective shift rods 42 and But,since the,coil 63 of the elec-tromagnet59 is energized, the coacting dog54 is still in operative position, and the further movement of theclutch pedal 11 causes the rod 43 to be shifted to the left, and thegear wheel 27 to be shiftedinto'mesh .with the gear wheel '30. Thecoacting limit switch 73 will then be opened and the coils 63, 81

the coil 93, caused by the opening-of the switch 91, first causes theblocks 44 and45 and the dogs 54 to be returned to their reand 90deenergized. The denergization of spective normal positions by thespring 101, I

whereupon the stop member 82 again en gages the pin 83.v The returnmovement of v, at

till

means the same manne changes may be made to third speed or the directionof drive reversed by actuating the appropriate push buttons 85 and 89,respectively. It will, of

course, be understood that, in order to reverse the direction of thevehicle, it is necessary to bring it to a stop before the clutch isthrown in.

When it is desiredto return either of the shiftable gear wheels 26 and27 to the neutral position, the'neutral button 88 is closed to energizethe coils 81 and 90. This action may occur regardless of the closure ofany of the speed-controlling buttons 85, 86, 87 and 89. The clutch isdisengaged as before, whereupon the lever 47 is actuated by the rockshaft 48 to shift the blocks 44 and outwardly. tion to be engagedimmediately by the appropriate dog 54: to return it to its normal orneutral position. When the dogs" 54c reach the stops 69, all of the dogs54 are rocked out of the grooves 53, since none of the controllingelectromagnets 58, 59, and 61 are energized. It is then impossible toshift the gear wheels untilone of the buttons, other than the neutralbutton 80, is closed.

It will be noted that I have provided a mechanism which requires for itsoperation, only the application/of such physical force as is necessaryto actuate the' usual clutch pedal against the tension of an opposingspring. The operation is accomplished by a quick positive aotion of apowerful electromagnet, with substantially no possibility of damage tothe gear wheels of the transmission mechanism. A single magnet isemployed instead of a separate magnet for each speed ratio of thetransmission mechanism. The employment of the electromagnetic switch tocontrol the circuit of the operating electromagnet renders the use of asafety device unnecessary.

I claim as my invention: 1. In a gear-shifting mechanism, thecombination with a .shiftable member, an electromagnet comprising amovable member,

and means for operatively connecting said movable member, to saidshiftable member,

of means for selectively controlling said connecting means. r

2. In agear-shifting mechanism, the combination with a shiftable member,and a housingtherefor, of an electromagnet attached to said housing,means comprising a rack and pinion for, operatively connecting saidelectromagnet to said shiftable member, and means for selectivelycontrolling said connecting means.

v 3. In a gear-shifting mechanism, the combination with a rod shiftablein opposite directions from a neutral position, of -eane The shifted rodis in a posi-' for actuating said rod comprising an electromagnet forshifting saidrod in either direction from its neutral position, andmeans comprising a plurality of push buttons, and a clutch pedal. forcontrolling said electromagnet.

4. In a gear-shifting mechanism, the combination with a pair of membersshiftable in opposite directions from a neutral position, anelectromagnet comprising a movable member and means for operativelyconnecting said movable member to said shiftable members and means forselectively controlling said connecting means.

5. In a gear-shifting mechanism, the combination with a rod shiftable inopposite directions from a neutral position, an electromagnet comprisinga movable member, and

means for operatively connecting sald movable member to said rod, ofmeans for selectively controlling the connecting means to actuate saidrod in either direction.

6. In a gear-shifting mechanism, the combination with a shiftablemember, an electromagnet comprising a movable member, and means foroperatively connecting said movable member to said shiftable member ofmeans comprising a plurality of push buttons for selectively controllingsaid connecting means.

7. In a gear-shifting mechanism, thecombination with a shiftable member,a power device comprising a movable member, means comprising gearmechanism for operatively connecting said movable member to saidshiftable member and means comprising a plurality of push buttons forselectively controlling said connecting means.

8. In a gear-shifting mechanism, the combination with a shiftable memberand means comprising a power device for actuating said member, of meansfor controlling said power device, said means comprising a plurality ofparallel circuits'and push buttons for controlling the parallelcircuits, and an electromagnetic switch having a coil in series with allof said parallel circuits.

9. In a gear-shifting mechanism, the combination with a shiftablemember, anelectromagnet comprising a movable member, and means foroperatively connecting said movable member to said shiftable member, ofmeans comprising a plurality of push buttons and a manually operablelever for selectively controlling said connecting means. 10. In agear-shifting mechanism, the combination with a shiitable member andmeans comprising a power device for actuating said member, of means forcontrolling said power device, said means comprising a plurality ofswitches in parallel circuits, an elec-.

tromagnetic switch having a coil in series with all of said parallelcircuits, and a inanually operable switch in circuit with saidelectromagnetic switch.

.6 Laeapm 11. In a gear shifting device, the combinaeubscribed my namethis 27th day of Feb.,' tion with a shiftable member, of an electro-1914,

magnet for shifting said member in opposite JOHN E WEBSTER directionsfrom a neutral position, and 5 means for selectively controlling thedirec- Witnesses:

tion of said member. A. B. KAIGHIN, Jr.,

In testimony where0f,- I have hereunto B. B. Hmns.

